i^o9< 

LIBERIA’S  NEXT  FRIEND. 

The  Annual  Discourse 

DELIVERED  AT  THE 


SIXTY-NINTH  ANNUAL  MEETING 


OF  THE 


OLONIZATiOtL 


Society, 


HELD  IN 

FOUNDRY  M.E.  CHURCH,  WASHINGTON,  D-  C- 


Sunday  Evening,  Jan’y  17,  1886, 

vX 

BY  REV.  B.  SUNDERLAND,  D.  D. 


Published  by  flEquEST  of  the  Society. 


WASHINGTON  CITY, 

Colonization  Building,  450  Pennsylvania  Avenue. 

1886. 


DISCOURSE. 


Africa!  Liberia!  What  hardship  and  heroism  in  our  time  they 
represent.  The  dark  Continent ! The  infant  Republic  ! What  mem- 
ories of  the  past ! What  hopes  of  the  future  ! 

Providence  turns  heavy  doors  on  the  smallest  hinges.  No  romance 
of  fiction  can  equal  the  wonders  of  the  way  in  which  a divine  purpose- 
threads  its  course  through  all  the  maze  of  human  history.  From  the 
first  generations  the  trend  of  the  human  race  has  been  turned  hither 
and  thither  by  things  in  themselves  lighter  than  a feather. 

God  first  partitioned  the  land  and  water  and  settled  the  geologic 
and  climatic  conditions  and  then  divided  the  nations  to  their  several 
estates—  The  third  part  of  the  Eastern  hemisphere,  according  to 
tradition,  fell  to  the  sons  of  Ham  in  whose  family  there  was  an  an- 
cient curse. 

But  in  the  economy  of  Heaven  there  is  no  curse  without  a bless- 
ing— and  often  the  blessing  blossoms  from  the  curse  ! Africa  became 
the  asylum  of  the  two  greatest  figures  in  the  annals  of  time. 

A tear-drop  on  the  cheek  of  a babe  in  a reed  basket  among  the 
rushes  of  the  Nile  gave  rise  to  the  fortunes  of  a people  out  of  whom 
came  at  last  the  world’s  Messiah  ! 

When  Christ  was  born,  his  infancy,  like  that  of  Moses,  was  shel- 
tered in  the  land  of  Egypt.  That  was  the  only  gate  of  ingress  or 
egress  which  remained  unshut  round  a coast  of  16,000  miles.  The 
seal  of  the  continent  like  that  of  its  great  pyramid,  was  left  unbroken 
for  centuries. 

About  400  years  ago,  the  Portuguese,  then  the  greatest  sailors, 
began  to  pry  around  it.  Explorations  followed.  The  slave  trade,  early 
existing,  was  vastly  augmented,  by  the  discovety  of  America.  Church 
and  State,  monarchy  and  merchandise,  joined  hands  to  make  it  re- 
spectable. For  the  next  three  centuries  European  rapacity  tore  from 
their  native  soil  the  children  of  Africa  and  thrust  them  on  the  mar- 
kets of  the  world. 

One  day  in  1620  a Dutch  ship  came  up  the  fames  river  and 
landed  the  first  score  of  Negro  slaves  at  Jamestown,  Virginia.  That 
was  the  beginning  of  African  slavery  in  this  country,  leading  to  long 
bondage,  to  civil  war  and  final  emancipation.  It  is  estimated  that 
from  1680  to  1786  England,  chiefly,  supplied  to  this  country  and  the 
West  Indies  2,130,000  Negro  slaves. 


4 


“But  there  is  a soul  of  good  in  things  evil.”  One  of  the  most 
conspicuous  uses  of  this  country  thus  far,  was  to  bring  these  abject 
Pagans  into  contact  with  our  modern  civilization  and  to  pack  multi- 
tudes of  them  into  the  Christian  church. 

About  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  an  idea  entered  the  mind  of 
a man  in  New  England  that  the  return  of  the  Negro  to  the  land  of 
his  fathers,  would  be  in  order.  It  caught  fire  and  kindled  in  other 
minds  in  various  forms  in  other  parts  of  the  country.  Years  went  on 
and  Paul  Cuffee,  an  Africo-Indian,  born  at  New  Bedford,  rising  from 
poverty  and  obscurity,  to  command  money  and  a ship  of  his  own, 
thought  it  was  time  to  put  this  idea  in  practice.  He  carried  back  to 
Africa  in  his  own  vessel  40  of  his  people  costing  him  the  sum  of  $4,- 
000.  This  was  in  1815.  He  seems  to  have  been  the  first  practical 
colonizationist. 

The  next  year  he  returned  to  this  country  and  died.  A few 
months  after,  the  American  Colonization  Society  was  born. 

Seventy  years  are  gone  and  Liberia,  as  she  stands  to-day,  is  the 
result.  The  Society  has  measured  the  alloted  span  of  a human  life 
and  it  remains  now  to  be  seen  whether  it  is  moribund  or  whether 
like  the  law  giver  of  Israel,  its  “eye  is  not  dim  nor  its  natural  force 
abated.” 

To  the  intimate  friends  of  Liberia  her  story  is  an  oft-told  tale. 
Great  speakers  at  the  annual  meetings  of  the  American  Colonization 
Society  at  Washington  and  at  other  times  and  places  have  pleaded 
the  cause  of  African  colonization.  The  press  has  created  a literature 
on  the  subject  of  more  or  less  permanent  character  and  value.  We 
have  had  the  narrative,  the  sentiment,  the  antiquity,  the  poetry,  the 
heroism,  the  sacrifice,  the  struggle,  set  before  us,  copiously,  eloquent- 
ly, and  with  strong  conviction. 

The  semi-Centennial  of  the  Society  was  observed  in  1867  and 
marked  an  epoch  in  its  history.  The  volume  of  the  proceedings  of 
that  year  is  accessible  to  those  who  would  be  informed.  In  addition 
to  the  addresses  and  discourses  on  that  occasion,  the  book  contains 
a copy  of  the  Liberian  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  full  text  of 
the  Constitution  of  the  new  Republic,  a description  of  its  flag  and 
seal,  the  inaugural  address  of  the  first  President  of  Liberia — Hon.  J. 
J.  Roberts,  the  annual  message  of  President  Warner  in  1866,  together 
with  a list  of  all  the  agents  and  government  officials  who  have  acted 
through  and  for  the  American  Colonization  Society — a table  of  the 
emigrants  and  of  the  cost  of  colonization  to  that  date,  and  lastly  the 
honored  names  of  the  original  members  of  the  Society. 

From  these  and  from  very  many  other  documents,  one  great 
fact  stands  out  clearly  to  our  view  and  that  is  that  the  whole  civilized 


5 


and  Christian  world  recognizes  the  relation  of  the  Government  of  the 
United  States  to  that  distant  infant  African  Republic  as  "her  next 
friend.” 

Thoughtful  and  philanthropic  men  have  in  former  times  discuss- 
ed and  urged  the  emancipation  of  the  enslaved  blacks,  and  their  re- 
moval to  the  father-land.  Upon  the  broadest  basis  it  has  been  shown 
that  the  people  of  this  country  have  obligations  on  this  subject  of  the 
most  serious  and  controlling  character,  and  when  we  declare  that  the 
United  States  is  in  a large  historic  sense  the  founder  and  necessary 
patron  of  the  Liberian  Republic,  we  assert  only  what  maj  be  known 
and  read  of  all  men. 

The  contests  and  suspicions  to  which  the  American  Colonization 
Society  was  subjected  in  the  period  prior  to  1861,  have  largely  passed 
away.  Emancipation  came  through  a sea  of  blood,  and  in  the  last  25 
years  "the  logic  of  events”  has  justified  the  wisdom  of  our  work  and 
vindicated  for  all  time  the  name  and  character  of  this  now  venerable 
organization. 

The  imperial  monarch  of  Spain,  Charles  V,  issued  a Royal  li- 
cense for  the  importation  of  African  slaves  into  his  American  pos- 
sessions. This  was  in  the  year  of  grace.  1 516,  just  300  years  before 
the  birth  of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  and  it  opened  wide 
the  gates  of  the  slave  trade  from  the  western  coast  of  Africa,  the 
horrors  of  “the  middle  passage”  and  all  the  pains  of  Christian  cruelty. 

But  Alfonso,  the  last  king  on  the  Spanish  throne,  whose  Royal 
obsequies  were  chronicled  but  the  other  day,  under  date  of  February 
nth,  1882,  sent  the  following  epistle  to  Gardner,  the  then  President 
of  Liberia: 

“Great  and  good  Friend: 

Desiring  to  give  you  a public  testimony  of  my  Royal  appreciation 
“ and  my  particular  esteem,  I have  had  special  pleasure  in  nominating  you 
“ Knight  of  the  Grand  Cross  of  the  Royal  Order  of  Isabel  the  Catholic.  I am 
“ pleased  by  this  action  also  to  furnish  new  proof  of  the  desire  which  animates 
“ me  to  strengthen  more  and  more  the  friendly  relations  which  happily  exist 
“ between  Spain  and  the  Republic  of  Liberia,  and  with  this  motive,  I repeat 
“ to  you  the  assurance  of  the  affection  which  I entertain  towards  you,  and 
“ with  which,  Great  and  Good  Friend,  I am 

Your  Great  and  Good  Friend, 

Alfonso.” 

It  is  a little  stilted  and  fulsome  after  the  manner  of  kings,  but  it 
soundscheerily  beside  the  ruthless  decree  of  Charles  V. 

No  man  can  trace  the  footsteps  of  Providence  in  these  latter 
days  without  being  constantly  surprised  at  the  unexpected  and  mar- 
velous turn  of  things.  The  world  is  more  alive  to-day  than  ever — as 
we  discover  through  constantly  accumulating  official  reports,  diplo- 
matic papers,  missionary,  scientific,  exploring,  educational  and  com- 


6 


mercial  accounts,  which  are  daily  concentrating  a flood  of  light  upon 
Africans  and  Africa.  The  change  on  the  face  of  the  world— even  du- 
ring the  existence  of  the  American  Colonization  Society,  invests  its 
work  with  a new  and  transcendant  interest.  Here  at  home  a race 
of  slaves  have  been  clothed  with  the  franchise  of  free  men  and  are 
rapidly  being  educated  in  the  spirit  of  our  civil  and  religious  institu- 
tions, and  at  this  moment  seven  millions  of  people  of  African  blood 
stand  confronted  with  the  future,  and  like  Saul  of  Tarsus  in  the  way 
to  Damascus — are  compelled  to  ask — “Lord  what  wilt  Thou  have  me 
to  do?” 

True,  there  is  a divided  opinion  among  them.  We  have  no  wish 
to  conceal  the  facts.  There  are  many  men  in  this  country  with  Af- 
rican blood  in  their  veins  who  rage  at  the  faintest  hint  of  what  they 
are  pleased  to  term  expatriation.  They  have  no  special  love  for  this 
venerable  Society.  To  the  prayer  of  Father  Snowden — a colored 
preacher  of  Boston  many  years  ago,  they  would  shout  a loud 
“ Amen  !” 

“Oh,  Lord,  we  pray  Thee  that  that  seven-headed  and  ten-horned  monster, 
the  Colonization  Society,  may  be  smitten  through  and  through  with  the  fiery  darts 
of  truth,  and  tormented  as  the  whale  between  the  sword-fish  and  the  thrasher.” 

Yet  to-day,  half  a million  of  Father  Snowden’s  people  are  seek- 
ing light  from  the  “ten-horned  monster”  and  turning  a wistful  gaze 
on  the  far-off  fatherland. 

The  Society  has  done  nothing  to  bring  about  this  state  of  things. 
The  only  activity  in  this  direction  has  been  information  imparted 
at  the  request  of  the  Negroes. 

But  it  is  said  they  are  all  free  born  now — what  more  do  they 
want?  Why  should  they  go  to  Africa?  Is  not  America  good  enough 
for  the  colored  people  ? 

Answers  to  these  questions  are  piled  up  month  after  month  on  the 
table  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Society,  and  we  are  forced  to 
go  over  and  over  them  and  then  lay  them  aside  for  want  of  means  to 
respond  effectively  and  ‘ thus  the  years  are  passing  away  with  too  little 
done.  They  come  from  all  quarters — as  well  from  New  England  as 
from  Texas  ; from  New  York  as  from  Alabama — and  they  want  to 
go.  Take  a specimen  case. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Brockenton,  pastor  of  a Baptist  church  ol  more 
than  1,000  members,  in  Darlington,  S.  C.,  evidently  a prominent  man 
in  his  Church,  in  his  State  and  county  and  town,  in  a letter 
of  December  12th,  1884,  says,  that  he,  with  his  family  and 
a large  company  of  his  people,  wishes  to  go  to  Afiica  for  the  follow- 
ing reasons: 

1.  Because  I want  to  continue  my  good  work  for  the  Master. 


7 


2.  Because  I think  my  Christian  influence  is  more  needed  there  than 
here.  3.  Because  the  harvest  in  Africa  is  great,  but  the  laborers  are 
few.  4.  Because  my  children  are  trained  teachers  or  mechanics  and 
as  such  can  assist  in  building  up  our  father-land.  5.  Because  my 
condition  as  a man  will  be  better  established  ind  my  work  as  a minis- 
ter better  appreciated. 

Sound  and  sensible  reasons — reasons  which  are  almost  daily  re- 
iterated by  the  colored  people  who  are  waking  up  to  the  question  of 
their  future  duty  and  condition. 

President  Roberts  in  a public  discourse  on  his  last  visit  to  this 
country  said  : “ 1 have  no  disposition  to  urge  my  colored  brethren  to 
leave  the  country,  but  as  for  me  I could  not  live  in  the  United  States.” 
Professor  Freeman  of  Liberia  College  while  on  a visit  a few  years  ago 
at  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  where  he  had  formerly  spent  12  years  as  a teacher 
in  a college  for  the  education  of  colored  students,  was  offered  strong 
inducements  to  remain  and  resume  his  former  position  in  that  insti- 
tution, but  he  refused.  The  Trustees  then  asked.  “What  will  you 
stay  for,  Freeman  ? ” His  reply  was  in  substance  this  : “ I will  stay, 
gentlemen,  for  what  either  of  you  white  men  would  consent  to  be- 
come a Negro  for,  and  live  in  Pennsylvania  and  transmit  his  social 
status  to  his  children.” 

But  this  is  not  all.  Every  settlement  in  Liberia  is  calling  for  pop- 
ulation from  the  United  States.  The  Honorable  Z.  B.  Roberts,  one  of 
the  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  writes  as  follows:  “ Sinoe  county 

was  planted  by  your  philanthropy  in  common  with  the  other  por- 
tions of  Liberia.  It  is  heavily  timbered,  has  a fertile  soil,  a bar  for 
shipping  at  all  seasons  of  the  year  and  a river  abounding  in  fish  includ- 
ing superior  oysters.  Our  evergreen  palm-trees  lift  up  their  tower- 
ing heads,  waving  majestically  their  glossy  limbs  and  broad  leaves, 
their  truntcs  filled  with  crimson  fruit  for  home  use  and  for  exporta- 
tion. There  is  room  here  for  Africa's  sons  in  America  to  enjoy  with 
us  this  God-given  land.  Emigrants  are  needed — those  that  will  re- 
solve, in  coming,  to  labor  for  the  elevation  of  themselves,  their  child- 
ren and  their  race.  Men  whose  bosoms  swell  with  a deep  love  of  lib- 
erty, mechanics,  farmers  miners  and  teachers  are  greatly  desired  !” 

Liberia  is  waiting  to  receive  them.  The  cry  is  louder  than  ever. 
The  basis  of  feeling  is  fast  changing  among  the  colored  people,  and 
where  before  they  had  distrust  of  the  motive  and  influence  of  Coloniz- 
ation, they  now  begin  to  act  from  higher  incentives  and  grander 
considerations.  The  light  of  this  venerable  Society  is  beginning  to  be 
comprehended  in  quarters  where  it  was  so  long  excluded.  Emigra- 
tion by  Africans,  of  Africans  and  for  Africans  is  coming  to  be  the  pi- 
broch of  thousands  who  would  hail  to-day  the  means  of  exodus  from 


8 


America.  It  is  not  simply  the  selfish  gain  of  which  they  dream,  but 
an  inspiration  of  Heaven  which,  like  a mighty  wind,  is  filling  heart  and 
mind  and  soul  and  sense  to  render  aid  to  the  children  of  the  mighty 
land  of  Ham. 

T.  McCants  Stewart,  one  of  the  young  men  sent  out  some  two 
years  since  to  be  a professor  in  the  College  of  Liberia,  after  a few 
months  sojourn,  has  returned  and  published  a book  in  which,  while 
avowing  himself  to  be  “ nota  colonizationist  ” he  nevertheless  pre- 
sents a most  powerful  argument  for  emigration.  The  very  matters  he 
exhibits  to  show  the  weakness  of  Liberia,  are  to  us  reasons  trumpet- 
tongued  why  we  should  at  once  pour  in  a tide  of  emigration  upon  her 
waste  places — why  we  should  lose  no  time  in  “ strengthening  the 
things  that  remain.” 

Would  he  have  emigration  cease?  Why,  one-half  the  human 
race  has  been  in  a state  of  emigration  since  Abram  left  Urr  of  the 
Chaldees  ! Emigration  to  America  begun  so  soon  as  the  Continent 
was  discovered  and  it  has  not  ceased  to  this  hour.  The  first  necessi- 
ty of  a State  is  men.  Napoleon  when  asked  “ What  France  most 
needed”?  replied,  “ Mothers!  ” 

Meanwhile  the  eves  of  Europe  are  gloating  on  African  possessions 
as  they  never  did  before.  In  almost  every  European  capital  or- 
ganizations exist  encouraged  by  kings  and  parliaments  or  by  power, 
ful  private  wealth  which,  from  one  motive  or  another,  are  centering 
their  energies  upon  different  portions  of  the  Negro  Continent.  The 
great  Powers  are  already  dividing  their  protectorates  and  planting 
their  standards  over  the  older  or  newer  colonies  which  their  enter- 
prise has  established.  It  is  a scramble  for  territory,  for  markets  for  the 
over-production  and  manufactures  of  the  leading  nations  of  the  world, 
for  commercial  adventure,  and  in  part  also  for  scientific  research, 
along  with  which  the  Church  must  toil  for  the  extension  of  Christian- 
ity. 

And  when,  in  a material  point  of  view,  we  consider  that  Africa 
controls  the  diamond  market  of  the  world,  that  it  yields  vast  quanti- 
ties of  gold,  that  its  palm  oil  is  nowhere  else  to  be  found,  can  we 
wonder  that  “ the  mammon  of  unrighteousness  ” is  looking  at  it  with 
the  eyes  of  a boa  constrictor  ? 

And  latest  and  most  surprising  of  all  looms  up  “ the  Free  State 
of  the  Congo.” 

Here  is  another  marvellous  thread  of  Providence.  Many  years 
ago  a man  begins  to  publish  in  the  city  of  New  York  an  insignificant 
newspaper.  Years  pass  on,  the  journal  grows  in  size  and  sinew.  A waif 
floating  on  the  drifting  tide  of  humanity,  is  put  on  the  staff  of  the 
newspaper  and  becomes  a war  correspondent.  The  founder  of  the 


9 


journal  dies.  His  son,  more  aspiring  than  the  father,  looks  round  for 
new  fields  of  enterprise.  Just  then  a successor  of  Mungo  Park,  an 
illustrious  African  explorer,  is  lost  and  'he  world  wonders  if  he  is 
dead.  An  English  journal  dreams  of  what  might  be  done.  A 

scheme  to  find  him  enters  the  brain  of  the  ambitous  journalist,  and 
the  stray  waif,  now  a sturdy  henchman  of  the  Press,  is  put  in  charge 
of  the  distant  search.  Livingstone  is  found  and  Stanley  grows  fa- 
mous in  a day  ! 

He  went  upon  a second  search,  Livingstone  died  and  his 
mantle  fell  upon  Stanley.  He  explored  the  Congo  and  was 
feted  in  England  and  at  the  Continental  Courts.  The  effort  fruited 
in  the  formation  of  the  “ International  African  Association,”  and  the 
‘‘Free  State  of  the  Congo,”  of  which  Leopold  of  Belgium  is  the  head  and 
Stanley  the  prime-minister.  The  flag  ofthe  “New  State”  is  a field 
of  blue  with  a golden  star.  It  already  floats  over  twenty-two  prosper- 
ous settlements,  one  thousand  miles  of  unobstructed  river  navigation 
and  a productive  contiguous  area  of  6 millions  of  square  miles,  sup- 
porting a population  of  50  millions  of  natives.  What  novel  ever  had 
a page  to  surpass  it  ? 

Following  this,  it  is  but  about  a year  since  that  Germany  called  a 
vast  Conference  at  Berlin,  Bismarck  presiding,  at  which  explorers,  di- 
plomats and  ministers  representing  all  there  is  of  Europe,  Turkey 
and  the  United  States,  assisted.  Treaties  weie  formed  and  conditions 
established  among  the  great  Powers  vitally  affecting  Africa  and  its 
people,  but  they  were  not  at  all  consulted.  Our  representatives  were 
present  by  direction  of  our  Government  and  doubtless  from  the  most 
praise-worthy  motives,  and  they  finally  become  signatories  to  the 
work  of  the  Conference.  What  they  did  there  was  large  of  purpose 
abounding  in  philanthropic  zeal.  But  it  is  the  first  time  in  our 
history  when  such  a thing  was  ever  done.  We  are  a singular  people. 
The  nations  are  coming  to  know  us  better,  and  while  in  diplomacy 
we  are  as  exclusive  as  China  itself, we  ought  not  to  be  at  all  squeam- 
ish when  standing  as  “ the  next  friend  ” to  the  little  sister  on  the 
African  coast.  It  is  high  time  for  the  people  of  this  country  to  wake 
up  to  the  designs  of  European  Powers. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  it  all  ? Does  Japheth,  no  longer  satisfied 
with  his  portion  of  the  world,  intend  to  supplant  and  despoil  hi& 
brother  Ham  ? Is  the  African  slave  trade  to  be  followed  by  subjuga- 
tion on  the  soil  and  a provincial  policy  as  oppressive  as  the  feudalism 
of  the  middle  ages  ? Will  the  pale  face  encroach  on  the  black  man  in 
Africa  as  he  does  on  the  red  man  in  America — leaving  extermina- 
tion to  the  weaker,  and  a black , black  record  to  the  stronger  which  no 
tears  of  repentance  can  wash  away?  Is  Africa  after  all  not  to  be 
ruled  by  Africans  ? Is  it  to  be  wrenched  away  from  its  own  sons — ta 


IO 


become  only  a European  dependency,  without  autonomy  or  self-ex- 
istence ? 

The  answer  which  the  American  Colonization  Society  makes  to 
these  questions  is  “Liberia!” — A free  Christian  Republic  already 
planted  in  one  of  the  fairest  regions  of  the  African  Continent — the 
dangers  and  difficulties  of  the  beginning  overcome,  the  fears  of  friends 
and  the  jeers  of  foes  passing  away — the  light  of  Christian  civilization 
shining  there  in  the  midst  of  Pagan  daikress. 

This  is  the  answer  of  the  initiatory  steps  and  stages  of  that  en~ 
terprize,  and  of  the  noble  advocates,  the  self-denying  agents  and  the 
generous  benfactors  of  Liberia.  It  is  the  answer  of  the  first  emigrants 
and  emphatically  of  Elijah  Johnson  a principal  man  among  them,  and 
whose  son  is  now  the  President  of  that  Republic.  As  their 
designs  became  known  they  awakened  the  opposition  of  the  native 
tribes  and  at  a moment  of  great  peril  from  their  assaults,  the  officers 
of  a vessel  appearing  there  offered  to  assist  the  colonists  against  their 
assailants  on  condition  that  they  should  be  granted  ten  feet  square 
of  ground  on  which  to  plant  the  English  flag.  “ No  sirs  ! ” cried  the 
old  man,  “ Not  an  inch.  I have  long  sought  a free  home  for  me  and 
mine,  I have  found  it  here  at  last,  if  we  allow  you  to  hoist  that  flag 
upon  our  soil,  it  will  be  harder  for  us  to  pull  it  down  than  it  will  be 
to  fight  the  natives  ! ” 

What  did  Washington  and  Lincoln  ever  say  more  heroic? 

Aye,  and  we  could  trace  this  answer  through  all  the  growth  of 
that  colony  under  the  fostering  care  of  our  Society — in  its  declaration 
of  Independence  in  1847,  in  its  Constitution  and  Republican  form  of 
government,  in  its  beautiful  situation,  in  the  variety  and  value  of  its 
natural  products,  in  the  extention  of  its  public  domain,  in  its  agricul- 
tural and  commercial  development,  in  the  establishment  of  education 
and  the  Christian  religion,  in  its  remarkable  state  of  society  consider- 
ing all  the  conditions  by  which  it  has  been  so  deeply  affected,  in  its 
great  influence  upon  the  suppression  of  the  slave-trade  and  the  up- 
lifting of  the  native  tribes,  and  finally  in  the  prospect  of  its  future 
position  as  the  morning-star  of  African  regeneration. 

To  the  schemes  of  Europe  for  the  possession  and  control  of 
Africa,  we  oppose  this  infant  Government  which  has  already  demon- 
strated the  two  cardinal  facts  of  African  capability  and  African  des- 
tiny— that  is  to  say — that  Negroes  are  equal  to  the  highest  known 
form  of  self-government— advancing  their  institutions  by  peaceful 
methods  and  bloodless  contests. 

What,  then,  is  the  objection  to  Liberia.  Why  should  she  not 
have  free  course  ? Why  should  her  voice  be  hushed  in  the  conclave 
of  the  nations  ? 


ist.  It  is  styled  the  land  of  Negroes — an  inferior  race — with  the 
old  family  curse  upon  them — the  sons  of  Ham.  It  is  said  that  mod- 
ern evolution  has  proved  “the  survival  of  the  fittest”  which  must 
ultimately  drive  them  to  the  wall. 

Our  answer  is  that  all  this  is  superficial  dogma — not  to  be  cured 
by  sending  to  Liberia  a refined  and  hyper-educated  class,  too  proud 
or  too  indolent  to  take  up  the  task  of  improvement,  and  too  haughty 
to  mingle  with  the  common  people  of  that  country.  We  say  also 
that  if  the  family  curse  ever  followed  that  people,  it  is  now  high  time 
to  maintain  that  it  should  be  exhausted — to  maintain  that  “Ethio- 
opia  shall  soon  stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God.”  And  is  it  not  like- 
wise clear  that  up  to  this  date  “the  survival  of  the  fittest”  in  Africa 
means  the  survival  of  Africans,  and  that  it  will  take  a long  time  for 
evolution  to  drive  two  hundred  millions  of  them  to  the  wall  ? It  is 
equally  illusive  in  the  light  of  history,  to  talk  of  “infetior  races,” 
while  the  fact  is  that  on  a broad  scale  there  are  no  inferior  races, 
that  is  no  races  incapable  of  becoming  dominant  in  the  world  through 
the  development  of  intrinsic  qualities.  We  must  remember  that  an 
African  civilization  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  which  we  know,  standing 
in  the  very  dawn  of  history. 

2.  But  then  theie  is  the  African  fever;  who  is  going  to  encoun- 
ter that  for  the  sake  of  Liberia-  for  the  sake  of  Africa  ? We  have  no 
interest  in  them.  Let  them  take  care  of  themselves  ! 

Is  it  not  strange  that  men  should  be  so  inveterately  hostile  to 
the  interest  of  Christian  civilization  in  a quarter  of  the  globe  where 
others,  for  sordid  gain,  are  willing  to  expose  themselves  to  every  haz- 
zard  ! We  cannot  comprehend  the  stolidity  which  objects  to  all  ex- 
ertions from  the  highest  motives  and  in  the  same  breath  smiles  upon 
efforts  which  arise  alone  from  mercenary  considerations.  Who  ever 
heard  of  physical  danger  extinguishing  the  spirit  of  adventure? 
In  1S49  the  Isthmus  was  white  with  the  bones  of  men  rushing  for 
gold  into  California.  But  acclimation  was  possible  to  the  miners, 
and  so  the  resources  of  that  great  coast  are  being  developed.  It  re- 
mains to  be  seen  whether  as  a rule  acclimation  is  possible  to  the 
white  man  in  Africa.  Up  to  this  date  the  climate  is  deadly--the 
fever  fatal  to  the  Caucasian  race.  Nobody  knows  much  about  it  save 
the  single  fact  that  it  spares  the  natives  who  are  usually  robust  and 
long  lived,  with  very  few  diseases;  but  it  furiously  attacks  white 
strangers  and  with  rare  exceptions  never  lets  up  on  them,  but  either 
kills  them  or  drives  them  out.  It  is  not  so  however  with  the  foreign 
born  Negroes,  who  after  the  first  experience  and  acclimation,  find  no 
further  trouble.  Now  what  is  the  meaning  of  this?  If  we  heard  a 
voice  from  heaven,  could  it  speak  plainer  the  will  of  Him  who  “di- 


vided  the  nations?  ’ We  seem  to  hear  Him  saying:  ‘‘This  is  why  the 
sons  of  Ham  are  black.  I have  fitted  them  for  the  equatorial  region 
and  have  fixed  the  climate  so  that  no  white  race  can  flourish  there. 
Beware  then,  ye  sons  of  Japheth.  Covet  not  the  land  of  the  Negroes. 
If  you  approach  those  shores  for  conquest,  I have  set  my  tiger  in  the 
lowlands.  He  will  spring  upon  and  kill  you  !”  That  we  take  it  is 
the  mission  of  the  African  fever.  It  is  the  watch  dog  of  Liberia  ! No 
wonder  the  burglars  from  abroad  dislike  it— and  because  they  dis- 
like it,  we  think  it  is  where  it  ought  to  be,  and  doing  what  it  ought 
to  do. 

3.  There  are  evil  tidings  of  Liberia  brought  by  a Naval  officer 
charging  that  domestic  slavery  exists  sub  rosa  in  that  Republic;  that 
the  citizens  secretly  encourage  it,  in  some  cases  buying  and  working 
slaves  from  the  native  tribes.  Some  very  lofty  falsehood  is  no  doubt 
prevalent.  The  calumny  is  refuted  by  the  Constitution  and  laws  of 
the  Republic.  A system  of  apprenticeship  does  prevail,  but  the  courts 
severely  punish  the  man  who  is  found  dabbling  in  the  loathsome 
slave  customs  of  the  savage  tribes,  and  that  slavery  exists  in  Liberia 
has  been  so  repeatedly  and  emphatically  denied  by  numerous  most 
competent  and  credible  witnesses,  that  it  becomes  a mere  question 
of  personal  veracity,  and  when  the  truth  of  the  case  comes  to  light 
we  have  no  fear  that  Liberia  will  be  dishonored.  As  well  might  we 
say  because  a few  old  slaves — the  legacy  of  a former  generation — still 
linger  in  our  Indian  tribes,  or  because  Coolies  from  China  have  been 
smuggled  into  the  country,  that  slavery  exists  in  the  United  States, 
and  that  this  Government  should  be  abolished  as  a national  nuisance. 

4.  From  a similar  source  it  has  been  objected  that  Liberia  to- 
day is  going  backward,  that  the  second  and  third  generations  are  re- 
lapsing, that  there  is  in  the  country,  and  especially  in  the  towns, 
streets  and  buildings,  an  air  of  retrogression,  that  the  people  lack  fore- 
sight and  enterprise,  that  everything  shows  them  to  be  a childish 
race,  not  worth  the  pains  which  Christian  philanthropy  has  expended 
upon  them.  In  accepting  strictures  like  these,  great  caution  is  neces- 
sary. No  lies  are  so  dangerous  as  those  which  are  false  in  the  blade 
and  true  in  the  handle.  According  to  the  latest  reports  from  Liberia, 
the  business  of  agriculture  and  trade  is  extending  with  gratifying  re- 
sults, and  the  value  of  the  annual  exports  is  growing  larger  year  by 
year.  This  single  fact  is  a sufficient  answer  to  the  libel  of  retrogres- 
sion. Nobody  pretends  that  perfection  has  been  reached  in  Liberia. 
Nobody  pretends  that  human  nature  there  any  more  thin  elsewhere 
has  Eden  innocence  and' virtue.  All  we  claim  is  that  taking  every- 
thing into  consideration,  Liberia  is  a success  and  will  be  more  and 
more  a success  in  the  future.  All  beginnings  are  small,  all  great 


T3 


things  are  born  of  trouble,  why  should  Liberia  be  an  exception?  Sup. 
pose  some  foreign  naval  officer  should  land  at  Alexandria,  hurry 
rapidly  through  the  town,  move  on  to  Richmond  and  down  to  Nor- 
folk in  the  same  superficial  way,  and  then  hasten  home  and  file  a 
report  in  the  navy  department  that  America  is  on  the  wane,  that  the 
people  are  thriftless  and  all  looks  dilapidated;  what  should  we  think 
of  the  value  of  such  testimony  ? 

Then  put  over  against  this  what  has  been  already  accomplished, 
the  obstacles  surmounted,  the  difficulties  removed,  the  success  at- 
tained, and  have  we  not  a guaranty  for  the  future  in  the  very  fact  of 
the  existence  of  the  Republic  as  it  is  at  the  present  moment  ? It  is 
not  an  easy  task  to  wipe  out  a people  that  against  such  odds  from 
the  beginning  has  made  such  headway  and  are  stronger  to-day  than 
ever.  It  took  our  “old  thirteen  colonies”  150  years  to  prepare  for 
the  assertion  of  “Independence.”  It  was  only  about  a score  of  years 
that  saw  Liberia  advancing  from  nothingness  to  take  her  place  in  the 
ranks  of  sovereign  independent  States.  We  think  we  have  here  a 
living  germ  of  nationality  destined  to  survive  every  vicissitude  and 
become  the  seed-corn  and  normal  principle  of  free  government  and 
Christian  civilization  for  all  Africa. 

5.  Adverse  criticism  might  fall  upon  Liberian  diplomacy  in  the 
settlement  of  some  great  questions  vitally  affecting  the  fortunes  of 
the  Republic.  But  allowance  must  be  made  from  the  circumstance 
that  a pigmy  is  brought  to  face  a giant  in  arbitrament.  The  final 
settlement  of  the  North-west  boundary  of  the  Republic  with  all  its 
antecedents  is  a chapter  of  public  dishonor  from  which  we  turn  away 
with  a sense  of  nausea.  Talk  of  diplomacy  between  the  wolf  and  the 
lamb  ! What  could  Liberia  do  but  submit  while  the  Government  of 
the  United  States,  acknowledged  by  all  the  world  as  “the  next  friend” 
of  Liberia,  after  having  said  that  it  would  regard  any  injustice  done 
to  her  “with  positive  disfavor,”  was  obliged  to  stand  calmly  by  and 
to  see  its  umpire  snubbed,  the  arbitration  broken  off,  and  forty  miles 
of  sea-coast  coolly  usurped  by  England  and  never  say  a word  ! 

6.  Exception  might  be  taken  to  the  fiscal  ^management 
of  the  Republic.  It  cannot  be  maintained  that  any  giant  ge- 
nius of  finance  has  yet  come  to  the  front  among  the  Liber- 
ans,  and  it  must  be  confessed  that  a cloud  of  debt  hangs  over  them 
at  this  moment  which  is  by  no  means  flattering  to  their  self-consider- 
ation. Still,  even  though  upon  specious  pretexts,  they  have  been 
despoiled  of  40  miles  of  sea-coast,  their  credit  has  not  sunken  low- 
er than  that  of  this  country  in  the  days  of  Washington.  Nor  has 
their  currency  depreciated  beneath  the  old  continental  paper  which 
circulated  so  low  that  a hatful  of  it  would  scarcely  purchase  a square 


14 


meal  for  a hearty  hungry  man.  All  nations  have  been  in  debt.  Look 
at  the  annual  budgets  of  the  great  Powers  to-day.  Liberia  is  not 
singular  in  her  struggle  with  the  financial  difficulties  in  the  first  forty 
years  of  her  national  existence.  We  confidently  hope  that  in  her  pres- 
ent emergency,  some  Hamilton  or  Robert  Morris  may  rise  to  con- 
duct her  in  safety  through  the  storm. 

7.  It  has  been  intimated  that  the  Liberians  are  frivolous,  too 
fond  of  dress  and  show.  Considering  the  plain  taste  and  demure  cos- 
tume of  the  world's  people  elsewhere — say  for  example  among  “ the 
higher  fashionables  ” of  American  cities,  what  an  awful  thing  this  is! 
Seriously  however,  the  reliable  testimony  is  that  the  customs,  habits 
and  houses  of  the  Liberians  will  compare  favorably  with  those  of  the 
same  class  here  at  home.  There  are  relatively  no  more  drones,  dudes 
or  coquettes  in  the  Liberian  towns  than  in  the  great  towns  of 
England  or  America.  The  observation  is  too  trivial  for  further  com- 
ment, 

8.  There  remains  another  and  more  recent  report  which  involves 
alike  the  work  of  this  Society  and  the  character  of  the  people  in  Li- 
beria. It  is  now  insisted  to  the  detriment  of  our  cause  that  the  class 
of  emigrants  sent  out  from  this  country  to  populate  “the  waste 
places”  there  is  of  an  inferior  character,  and  that  any  further  effort  to 
supply  Liberia  with  colored  people  from  America  is  inexpedient  and 
unwise. 

We  answer  this  by  saying  that  even  if,  the  charge  were  strictly 
true  it  is  no  argument  against  colonization,  and  no  real  friend  of  Af_ 
rica  will  use  it.  On  the  other  hand  it  ought  properly  to  become  a 
powerful  incentive  to  greater  carefulness  and  exertion. 

Of  course  it  could  scarcely  be  otherwise  than  that  out  of  the 
whole  body  of  emigrants  which  this  Society  has  sent  there  during  the 
last  sixty  years  some  may  have  proved  to  be  bad  material.  The  best 
human  judgment  and  foresight  cannot  provide  against  every  conting- 
ency, and  certainly  not  in  a case  like  this  when  culling  and  selecting 
individuals  is  impracticable,  when  emigrants  have  to  he  sent  in  fam- 
ilies, bands,  and  companies.  But  taking  togetherjthe  whole  mass  of 
the  emigrants  the  charge  is  libelous  and  cruel.  It  is  an  unjust  reflec- 
tion on  the  whole  work  of  this  Society  and  should  be  frowned  down  by 
every  man  who  has  any  proper  knowledge  of  the  history  and  present 
status  of  Liberia.  It  stands  there  to-day  a grand  germinal  point  for 
all  manner  of  progress  and  improvement,  and  for  the  spread  of  civil 
and  religious  institutions  over  the  whole  Continent.  With  such  a 
position  and  prospect  is  it  possible  for  Liberia  to  go  backward,  or  for 
this  Society  to  cease  its  efforts,  or  for  this  Government  to  be  deaf  to* 
the  trumpet-call  for  help  in  the  present  juncture? 


*5 


Liberia  has  on  her  south-eastern  border  a magnificent  domain 
between  the  Cavalla  and  San  Pedro  rivers,  the  title  to  which  is 
questioned  by  England,  as  though  she  were  preparing  on  some  plaus- 
ible pretext — perhaps  the  maturing  loan  of  a million  dollars,— to  take 
up  another  40  miles  of  the  coast  line  of  the  Republic.  To  prevent 
this  and  other  hostile  contingencies,  we  need  to  pour  into  that  quar- 
ter of  Liberia  in  the  next  two  years  ten  thousand  of  the  choicest  Afri- 
cans we  have.  We  cannot  do  this  by  the  tardy  and  inadequate  aid  of 
private  beneficence.  The  only  feasible  way  is  by  an  appropriation  of 
a million  dollars  from  the  Public  Treasury  voted  by  Congress  and 
sanctioned  by  the  President  under  the  wisest  safe-guards  attainable, 
and  for  this  we  ask  you  to  petition.  Let  it  be  the  voice  of  the 
people.  Before  another  year  is  spent  we  want  to  hear  the  echoes  of 
this  appeal  from  every  quarter  of  the  country;  we  want  to  reverse  the 
apothegm  of  Berkley,  and  say  as  by  this  signal  of  African  regenera- 
tion, “ Hail  all  Nations!” — “ Eastward  the  star  of  Empire  takes  its 
course 

As  well  stated  in  the  last  Annual  Report  of  the  Society,  “ The 
lesson  taught  by  all  experience  is  this:  That  the  interior 

of  Africa  can  be  reached  and  the  coast  can  be  effectively 
occupied  for  commercial  aud  colonization  purposes  but  in 
one  way , and  that  is  through  colonies  of  civilized  Negroes,  for  only 
they  can  colonize  equatorial  Africa  and  live.  But  England,  France 
and  Germany  have  no  means  of  securing  such  colonists.  England 
cannot  offer  inducements  to  Negroes  in  the  West  Indies  to  go  and 
build  up  the  waste  places  of  their  father-land.  Such  an  exodus 
would  in  a few  years  depopulate  the  West  Indies  and  reduce  some  of 
the  wealthiest  of  those  Islands  to  a poverty-stricken  wilderness.  She 
cannot  send  recaptured  Africans  from  her  colonies  at  Sierra  Leone, 
Gambia  or  Lagos.  They  have  not  enough  civilization  in  its  relations 
to  commerce  and  the  industrial  arts.  France  cannot  depopulate 
Gaudaloupe  or  Martinique  to  furnish  Negroes  to  the  interior  of  Sene- 
gal or  Goree.  Germany  has  no  colonies  of  civilized  Negroes  from 
which  to  draw  emigrants  for  her  African  projects.  The  only  man  then 
available  for  the  great  work  of  opening  Africa  to  commerce  and  civil- 
ization is  the  Negro  of  America.  He  can  live  there,  for  it  is  the  habi- 
tat of  his  race,  and  being  fully  civilized  and  Christian  too,  he  is  the 
agent,  and  the  only  agent  that  the  world  contains  adapted  to  this 
purpose.  He  has  proved  his  adaptation  and  efficiency  in  the  work 
thus  far  accomplished  by  the  Republic  of  Liberia. 

“It  is  stated  that  the  British  Government  have  expended  immense 
sums  to  keep  the  peace  and  to  promote  trade  along  the  route  be- 
tween Sego  and  Sierra  Leone.  But  the  principle  of  the  Liberia  estab- 


lishment  has  done  more  and  will  do  more  to  keep  the  peace  and  pro- 
mote trade  than  all  the  wealth  of  England,  without  colonists,  can  do. 

"Now  the  American  Colonization  Society  is  the  only  organized  agency 
for  developing  this  important  influence,  and  transferring  to  this  vast 
and  productive  field  the  only  agents  that  can  profitably  cultivate  it. 
The  amalgamation  of  civilized  agencies  with  the  indigenous  elements 
is  the  only  statesmanlike  and  effective  mode  of  solving  the  prob- 
lem of  African  civilization,  and  the  only  agencies  available  for  such 
amalgamation  are  in  the  United  States-” 

And  I may  add,  they  can  be  sent  without  injury  to  any  home  in- 
terest, whatsoever,  and  they  are  ready  and  anxious  to  go ! Ten  thous- 
and of  the  very  best  ought  to  occupy  that  south-eastern  part  of  Li- 
beria in  the  next  two  years.  It  will  cost  a million  dollars.  Where  is 
this  million  ? Just  yonder  in  the  vaults  of  the  treasury  of  the  United 
States. 

Why  should  not  this  Government  come  to  the  rescue  now  ? If 
ever  there  was  a debt  from  one  people  to  another  this  country  owes  it 
to  the  African  race.  Every  consideration  of  philanthropy,  of  patriot- 
ism and  of  piety  combines  to  confirm  the  obligation. 

While  it  is  not  claimed  that  Liberia  has  ever  been  the  ward  of 
our  Government  in  any  substantial  sense,  yet  its  kind  offices  and  its 
money  have  been  expended  in  a spirit  of  friendliness  and  national 
comity  which  entitle  it  beheld  as  “the  next  friend  ” of  that  infant 
nation.  The  Presidents  Jefferson,  Madison  and  Monroe  took  a spec- 
ial interest  in  the  destiny  of  the  free  people  of  color  in  this  country. 
During  the  administration  of  Jefferson  and  while  Monroe  was  Gov- 
ernor of  Virginia,  emancipation  and  subsequent  provision  for  the 
Negroes  occupied  the  attention  of  all  Southern  statesmen. 

When  afterwards  Monroe  became  President,  by  his  enlightened 
interpretation  of  the  act  of  March  3d,  1819,  providing  for  the  return 
of  re-captured  Negroes  to  Africa,  he  furnished  the  means  by  which 
the  work  of  this  Society  was  practically  commenced.  By  his  direc- 
tion the  Navy  Department  chartered  the  ship  “Elizabeth”  giving 
passage  to  86  Negroes.  These  were  “ the  pilgrim  fathers  ” of  Liberia. 
They  were  attended  by  a war  vessel  and  sailed  from  New  York  Feb. 
5,  1820,  just  200  years  from  the  landing  of  the  May  Flower  at  Ply- 
mouth Rock. 

Cape  Mesurado  on  which  stands  Monrovia,  the  capital  of  the 
Republic,  was  purchased  from  the  natives  December  15  1821,  largely 
by  the  individual  persistence  and  intrepidity  of  Commodore  Robert 
F.  Stockton,  who  was  sent  to  explore  and  select  a point  for  the  colon- 
ists, and  since  that  day  the  United  States  Government  has  made  Li- 
beria the  asylum  for  nearly  six  thousand  re-captured  Africans. 


17 


Our  Government  concluded  a treaty  with  Liberia,  Oct.  21,  1862 
Article  8 of  that  treaty  is  as  follows:  “The  United  States  Govern- 
ment engages  not  to  interfere,  unless  solicited  by  the  Government  of 
Liberia,  in  the  affairs  between  the  original  inhabitants  and  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  Republic  of  Liberia,  in  the  jurisdiction  and  territories  , 
of  the  Republic.  Should  any  U.  S.  citizen  suffer  loss,  in  person  or 
property,  from  violence  by  the  aboriginal  inhabitants,  and  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  Republic  of  Liberia  should  not  be  able  to  bring  the 
aggressors  to  justice,  the  U.  S.  Government  engages,  a requisition 
having  first  been  made  therefor  by  the  Liberian  Government,  to  lend 
such  aid  as  may  be  required.” 

How  is  this  for  an  “entangling  alliance  !”  The  Government  of 
the  United  States  has  frequently  expressed  more  than  a mere  inter- 
est— memorably  in  dispatches  from  the  Department  of  State  by  Sec- 
retary Upshur  in  1843,  and  more  recently  by  Secretary  Evarts  in  1879 
and  by  Secretary  Frelinghuysen  in  1882.  More  than  once  has  the 
Navy  Department  responded  to  the  request  of  this  Society  by  send- 
ing Government  vessels  with  distinguished  officers  to  the  coast  of 
Africa  with  friendly  designs. 

The  first  message  of  President  Cleveland  devotes  a well  con- 
sidered paragraph  to  these  great  interests  in  Africa,  and  we  are  fain 
to  think  from  the  nature  of  the  man  and  those  he  has  called  around 
him,  that  both  he  and  his  Cabinet  would  be  favorably  disposed  to- 
ward any  legislation  by  Congress  which  should  be  with  proper  safe- 
guards and  conditions  framed  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  emigration  to 
the  sister  Republic. 

Can  there  be  any  question  if  Congress  were  so  disposed,  as  to  the 
constitutionality  of  an  appropriation  ? While  millions  are  voted  for 
expositions,  for  subsidies,  for  school  purposes,  for  internal  improve- 
ments, for  unnumbered  charities,  for  disasters  bv  fire  and  flood  and 
famine — while  the  resources  of  the  country  are  overflowing, — while 
thousands  upon  thousands  of  colored  people  are  anxiously  praying 
for  the  means  of  exodus,  what  possible  objection  can  there  be  to 
such  an  act  of  magnanimity? 

At- this  moment  of  all  others  does  it  not  become  us  to  strengthen 
the  hands  of  the  infant  nation?  Liberia  has  recently  been  cited  by 
international  lawyers  to  prove  that  communities  founded  by  private 
persons  for  industrial  and  commercial  purposes  may  in  the  course  of 
time  assume  sovereign  rights. 

We  have  reached  a point  where  nothing  will  answer  but  to  go 
forward.  If  this  Society  would  vindicate  its  right  to  be  in  the  future 
there  must  be  placed  before  it  a new  and  larger  purpose,  more  faith 
and  more  energy.  Let  steps  be  taken  at  once  to  prepare  the  public 


i8 


mind  and  Congress  and  the  entire  Government  for  an  onward  move- 
ment of  emigration.  Let  some  adequate  plan  of  action  be  adopted 
to  bring  before  the  two  Houses  the  question  of  a generous  appropri- 
ation. It  was  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Webster,  the  greatest  constitutional 
lawyer  on  the  American  roll  of  fame,  publicly  and  clearly  expressed, 
that  such  an  appropriation  would  be  legitimate. 

In  the  proceedings  of  the  Society  at  its  annual  meeting  of  1852, 
a powerful  plea  was  made  by  the  Hon.  Frederick  P.  Stanton,  of  Tenn., 
for  the  favor  and  encouragement  of  the  Government  in  behalf  of  the 
work  of  this  Society.  President  Fillmore  and  his  Secretary  of  State, 
Mr.  Webster,  were  both  present.  At  that  meeting  Mr.  Webster  pre- 
sided and  in  the  speech  which  he  made  on  that  occasion,  he  used  this 
language: 

“It  appears  to  me  that  this  emigration  is  not 'impracticable.  What  is  it  to  the 
great  resources  of  this  country  to  send  out  100,000  persons  a year  to  Africa  ? In 
my  opinion  without  any  violation  of  the  analogies  which  we  have  followed  in  other 
cases,  in  pursuance  of  our  commercial  regulations  upon  the  same  principles  as  have 
already  been  stated  by  the  Hon.  gentleman  from  Tenn.,  who  has  addressed  the 
meeting,  it  is  within  our  constitution — it  is  within  the  powers  and  provisions  of 
that  constitution  as  part  of  our  commercial  arrangements,  just  as  we  enter  into 
treaties  and  pass  laws  for  the  suppression  of  the  slave-trade.” 

With  many  such  like  words  did  this  great  man  testify  to  his 
convictions,  and  subsequently  when  President  Lincoln  was  brought 
face  to  face  with  the  question  of  Negro  destiny  in  this  country,  he 
did  not  hesitate  to  say  that  to  solve  this  problem  the  money  of  the 
treasury  of  the  United  States  should  be  brought  into  requisition.  In 
pursuance  of  his  recommendation,  Congress  took  action  looking  to 
the  colonization  of  the  Negroes  of  this  country,  and  a large  sum  of 
money  was  appropriated  in  this  behalf.  Propositions  were  made  to 
secure  some  region  south  of  the  United  States  on  the  American 
continent — for  in  that  day  Liberian  colonization  was  not  so  popular 
as  it  promises  yet  to  become,  and  so  in  a singularly  providential 
manner,  the  whole  project  came  to  nothing.  But  it  serves  to  show 
both  what  was  thought  of  the  legitimacy  of  such  appropriations,  and 
how  also  the  best  laid  schemes  are  delayed  or  diverted  to  give  place 
to  the  sovereign  will  of  God. 

The  cry  of  the  desolate  is  ringing  in  our  ears.  From  every  sec- 
tion of  the  country  where  these  people  are  to  be  found  we  hear  the 
voice  of  the  exodus.  A great  home-sickness  for  Africa  has  been  be- 
gotten in  the  hearts  of  multitudes,  and  every  wind  bears  to  our  ears 
the  pining  and  the  moan. 

We  owe  it  to  them.  The  unrequited  servitude  of  250  years 
stares  at  us  like  a note  of  hand  already  long  matured.  When  the 
Hebrew  slaves  departed  from  Egypt  they  went  out  loaded  with  the 


19 


gold  and  jewels  of  the  realm.  God  sanctioned  the  deed  to  give  them 
compensation  for  their  toil — and  the  same  Jehovah  is  to-day  upon  the 
throne  to  put  down  one  and  raise  up  another.  He  will  see  to  it  that 
the  price  is  paid.  If  we  now  withhold  the  wages.  He  will  take  it  from 
this  nation  in  some  other  way.  The  balance  is  in  his  hand,  and  His 
word  to  America  is  “Payyour  debt.”  He  gave  the  Hebrews  favor  in  the 
eyes  of  the  Egyptians.  The  same  must  come  to  pass  for  the  Negroes- 
There  is  with  the  Supreme  Ruler  no  bankrupt  law  by  which  we  may 
escape. 

Look  at  the  money  now  being  spent  on  Africa  in  promotion  of 
European  designs.  The  richest  exchequers  are  open  for  diplomacy, 
for  trade,  for  acquisition.  All  kinds  of  firms  and  monopolies  are  pour- 
ing out  their  treasures  in  the  hope  of  gain.  Two  lines  comprising 
28  steamships  are  running  from  Liverpool  to  the  western  coast  of 
Africa.  France,  Germany,  and  Portugal  ihave  each  a monthly  line. 
A belt  of  Christian  missions  already  engirds  the  Continent,  and  the 
videttes  of  the  grand  army  of  the  Church  of  Christ  have  even  now 
reached  the  lake  region,  the  banks  of  the  Zambesi  and  the  Niger  and 
the  broad  basin  of  the  Congo.  All  this  is  being  done  at  immense  ex- 
pense, and  the  United  States  in  a Governmental  capacity  stands  idly 
looking  on  with  hands  in  pocket  and  purse  shut,  not  appropriating 
one  single  dollar  to  forward  the  cause  of  emigration  or  in  proof  of 
the  claim  and  the  favor  of  standing  before  the  nations  as  the  “next 
friend”  of  the  young  Republic. 

The  unrest  of  the  colored  people  here,  and  their  eagerness  to 
reach  the  fatherland,  has  begun  to  kindle  the  keenest  interest  all 
along  the  coast  of  Africa,  both  in  and  beyond  Liberia,  and  an  earnest 
desire  prevails  to  welcome  back  the  children  of  their  fathers. 

We  have  come  to  a crisis  ! The  land  ought  to  be  shaken  from 
centre  to  circumference  on  this  question.  Let  the  better  genius  of 
the  Press,  that  mightiest  engine  of  modern  civilization,  take  up  the 
subject.  Let  the  American  Church  speak  out.  Let  the  massive  and 
ever  augmenting  cohorts  of  Methodism,  whose  camp-fires  glow  in 
every  nation  under  heaven,  and  whose  mighty  tread  is  as  the  angel 
of  God  beneath  whose  feet  the  rock-ribbed  earth  is  trembling — let 
the  solid  army  of  the  Baptists,  whose  ranks  are  thick  with  Converts 
standing  for  the  defence  of  the  common  faith  of  Israel— let  the  Epis- 
copalians, whose  banners  stream  upon  the  rejoicing  air  and  whose 
altar-fires  grow  beautiful  in  the  great  dawn  of  the  advancing  day — let 
the  Presbyterians,  the  sons  of  French  Huguenots,  of  Scotch  Cove- 
nanters, and  of  Irish  Ulster  men-mailed  with  iron  shield  and  stalwart 
in  the  heat  of  battle  as  the  gray  crags  of  Switzerland — let  the  Con- 
gregationalists,  whose  pilgrim  fathers  colonized  New  England’s  shores 


20 


and  made  the  coast  one  line  of  freedom’s  glorious  light — in  the  midst 
of  which  their  Boston  stands  to-day — outshining  Athens  as  Christ 
outshone  the  Socrates  of  old— let  the  Lutheran,  whose  name  recalls 
the  Reformation  and  makes  us  hear  again  the  unfettered  voice  of 
that  intrepid  monk  who  shook  the  Papal  world — let  the  fervent 
Quaker,  whose  illustrious  pioneer  brought  hither  the  benignant  spirit 
of  his  Order,  and  gave  title  to  the  “Key-Stone  State’’  and  perpetuated 
his  piety  in  the  very  name  of  her  magnificent  city — let  the  sectary 
of  every  name,  Protestant  and  Romish,  join  hands  to- 
gether to  solicit  this  grand  subsidy  of  national  benificence.  We 
are  paying  now  at  the  rate  of  $18,000  for  a Congressional  funeral. 
Let  the  flood-gates  of  petition  be  opened  upon  Congress,  and  from 
every  class  and  from  every  corner  roll  in  upon  that  Body  a volume  of 
supplication.  Man’s  extremity  is  God’s  opportunity ! On  this  matter 
likewise  the  maxim  will  be  true  to  the  letter  in  the  ears  of  Congress. 
— “The  voice  of  the  people  is  the  voice  of  God  !” 

At  Waterloo  the  flails  of  Napoleon  fell  heavily  and  long  on  the 
hollow  squares  of  Wellington.  “Hard  pounding  this,  gentlemen  !”  he 
eried,  “but  we  must  pound  the  longest.”  At  last  the  moment  came 
and  the  voice  rang  like  a trumpet  in  every  soldier’s  fiber,  “up  guards 
and  at  them  !”  That  was  the  final  order — the  herald  cry  of  victory  ! 
Too  long  has  silence  reigned  in  the  camp  of  this  American  philan- 
thropy. Too  long  have  the  friends  of  Liberia  withheld  their  last 
appeal.  The  hour  is  come  when  we  must  win  success  with  our  own 
nation  and  demonstrate  in  a way  we  have  never  done  before  that 
this  Republic  is  indeed  “the  next  friend”  of  that  over  yonder,  rising 
as  the  day-star  of  African  regeneration,  and  that  we  are  glad  and 
proud  of  this  relationship. 

No  misgivings— no  tremblings— no  waverings  now!  The  world 
is  beginning  to  acknowledge  the  spirit  and  methods  of  this  Society 
and  to  vindicate  by  overwhelming  testimony  the  practical  wisdom 
in  which  it  had  its  origin.  If  ever  in  our  times  the  guiding  hand  of 
Omnipotence  is  visible  in  human  affairs,  it  has  been  in  the  labors  and 
results  of  the  American  Colonization  Society. 

I will  end  therefore  as  I began — heavy  doors  on  the  smallest 
hinges  ! If  on  that  night  in  the  church  in  Georgetown,  dimly  lighted 
with  tallow  candles,  where  Francis  S.  Key,  author  of  the  “Star 
Spangled  Banner,”  was  pleading  with  silver  tongue  the  cause  of  col- 
onization, no  one  could  have  foretold  the  transcendent  results  which 
have  since  transpired  before  our  eyes,  who  shall  say  that  from  this 
very  altar  around  which  we  gather  on  this  occasion,  a flood-tide  may 
not  spring  which  shall  roll  to  the  remotest  limit  of  the  Republic  and 
rouse  a mighty  people  as  with  the  hand  of  one  man  to  a new  and 


2 I 


grander  benificence  and  to  exertions  that  shall  never  cease  till  over 
all  the  soil  of  Africa  a song  responsive  to  our  own  shall  swell. 

And  the  flag  of  the  stripes  and  the  white  star  shall  wave 
O’er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave  ! 


